Garbage strike ends without snag

April 27, 2010

By Staff

Union trash haulers went on strike against Waste Management for less than 48 hours last week.

The strike ended before most Issaquah residents noticed changes to garbage service. Waste Management serves most Issaquah customers. Allied Waste — a company unaffected by the strike — hauls garbage in the southwestern corner of the city.

The union said haulers returned to work without conditions “to prevent a public health crisis” and reduce service disruptions.

Representatives for Waste Management and the union, Teamsters Local 174, planned to reopen labor negotiations. The dispute centered on medical benefits.

“These are positive developments and I’m glad to see both sides returning to the bargaining table,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement issued after haulers returned to work. “I believe the parties can work toward reaching a fair and equitable resolution.”

The contract for Waste Management haulers expired March 31. Union negotiators rejected what Waste Management described as the “best, last, final offer” in early April.

Allied Waste, the hauler responsible for Greenwood Point and South Cove, reached a labor deal with workers April 11. The company also serves Klahanie and Mirrormont in unincorporated King County.

Comments

One Response to “Garbage strike ends without snag”

bryanw on
April 28th, 2010 7:04 am

Without Snag? My whole block (SE portion of Issaquah-downtown) has had rotting compose, recyclables and stinky dog poop packed garbage sitting outside for well over a week – well past last Thursdays pick-up day, but I guess that’s not a snag….

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